dig it

During a walk on the beach, I pass a young Chinese family. The mother is making lunch under the shade of an umbrella. The father, plastic shovel in hand, is working on a hole as his barely-toddler son watches intently from the edge, feet dangling.

A burst of joy stops me in my tracks: They made it!!

And then waiting a moment longer to see if anyone else emerges, when no one does, I continue on.